As we get to the parashiot where it gets very technical, most of us lose interest, unless we aspire to be an architect. This week’s parasha, parashat Terumah, involves the building plans of the Mishkan, the temporary Beit Hamikdash that Bnei Israel used to worship Hashem on the way to Eretz Israel.
The Parasha opens this week by saying that Moshe should ask the people whether they want to donate to the Mishkan, but only from the men whose heart motivates them. We have 613 biblical commandments, and it feels like an endless amount of rabbinic commandments. Why is it when it comes to the building of the Mishkan or the Beit Hamikdash, Hashem decides to ASK for the money for it? Would one more commandment hurt us? Why wouldn’t he give utmost respect to his dwelling place?
On Shabbat we say, Kol Yisrael yesh la’hem khelek l’Olam Haba, every Jew has a portion in the world to come. We Jews believe that each person based on what he did in his life on this world gets a different portion in the world to come. Making this commandment a request, allows us to willingly give up our position for godly service. Hashem allows us to get even more reward for what we give up if it were commanded. If something is commanded then it’s a must! Hashem commands us to keep Shabbat; it makes it a lot easier to keep Shabbat. But if God recommended Shabbat, but didn’t make it mandatory, it would take a lot more control, fighting of the Yetzer Hara, for us to keep it. Same thing applies here, making it not mandatory; the average Jew who gives, gets a lot more reward, he shows that he loves Hashem whether or not he commanded us to love him or not (v’ahavta et Hashem Elokecha, shema). We should take upon ourselves everyday, every week, every month, starting from this month! ADAR! To not look at things as burdens or commandments, but as things we would go to the end of the world to do.
Rosh Chodesh Tov, Misheh Nichnas Adar Marbim B’Simcha, Yosef Nemanpour